A SOUTH African consultant who is re-locating because of the political climate back home is one of four new specialists joining the University Hospital of North Durham.

Professor Peter Gray, who currently heads the department of chemical pathology at Capetown University, has been appointed as consultant in chemical pathology at the hospital.

A spokeswoman for the North Durham trust said the professor, "is returning to the UK as he finds his position in South Africa is becoming increasingly difficult because of the current political climate."

Dr Richard Harden, who is currently in charge of the Emergency Medical Admissions Unit at Leeds General Infirmary is joining the Durham hospital as consultant in accident and emergency.

His interest in medical emergencies will complement the other A & E consultants' surgical interests.

After working in the Durham area for the last year, Dr Abdelhakim Gatnash has been appointed as consultant physician with an interest in care of the elderly.

Dr Gatnash, who originally qualified in Libya before working in London, will mainly be based in the community hospitals in the Derwentside area.

Nearer to home, Durham-born Dr Tim Petterson has been appointed to the new post of consultant physician with an interest in acute care.

The trust spokesman said Dr Petterson's post had been created to give additional 'leadership' in the hospital's medical admissions unit.

Steven Mason, chief executive of the North Durham trust, said he was 'delighted' to welcome such high calibre consultants to the new hospital.